Clothes-line reel and stretcher.



M. KERRIGAN.

CLOTHES LINE REEL AND s'gBETGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1909 I Patented Oct. 26,1909.

a'rwm lfoz 3,91% new UNITED ST EICHEEL KERRIGAN, F BROWNINGTON, MISSOURI.

CLOTHES-LINE REEL AND STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 26. 19532.

Application filed May 15, 1909. Serial No. 496,154.

T 0 oZZ 'zoh0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, ll'llCIlAEL KnnmcAN, a citizen of the United- States, residing at *Brownington, in the county of Henry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Clothes-Line Reels and Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improved clothes line reel and stretcher and it consists in the novel features or construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The ohject oithe invention is to improve and simplifyethe construction and operation of devices of this character and thereby render the same less expensive, stronger and more jdurahle and convenient.

The above and other objects of the invenion are attained in the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved clothes line reel and stretcher; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig, l; and Fig. 3 is an end view. v

Theinvention comprises an attaching frame or bracket 1, a reel and a supporting frame 3 for the reel, detachahly engaged with-the bracket 1. The latter is adapted to he securedon a post or any vertical supportisnd comprises a rectangular plate 4 apertnred at 5 to receive screws or other iestenings and having secured upon its central portion by rivets or the like-6, a plate 7, the upper portion of which is o'll'set to provide a suspendin hook for engagement by the reel carrying rame 3.

The frame is formed from a metal strap bent into U-shape and having its closed rear portion formed with an oil'set portion 8 to receivethe hook portion 7 on the attaching bracket 1. The upwardly'projecting horizohtal ends or arms 9, 10 of the frame 3 receive the reel 2 between them and in the arm 9 is formed a small bearing opening for one end of a shall; '19 on which latter the reel is secured. The reel 2 is in the 't'm'm of a spool and consists of a body of rectemgular shape in cross section having circular heads or flanges 19 at its ends and a central opening to receive the shaft 11. The major portion of said shaft is preferably square in cross section and extends through similar shaped openings in metal plates 13 secured on the v outer faces of the heads 12 concentric with the same, whereby the reel will rotate withthe shaft. One extremity elf-the shaftis rounded to rotate in the bearing opening in the arm 9 of the frame 3 and its other end is bent to form a' crank handle '14. Upon the last mentioned end of the shaft is arranged a collar or sleeve 15 having one end reduced to provide a cylindrical hearing hub 16 which rotates in a bearing opening in the arm 10 and its other end enlarged and provided with an annular series of teeth to provide a ratchet wheel 17 The sleeve 15 has a squared central opening to receive the shaftl 11 so that it rotates with the shaft and its large inner end which forms the ratchet wheel 17 is disposed between the arm-10 and the metal plate 13 on the adjacent {and of the reel 2. :Pivoted at 18 upon the pro jecting outer end of the arm 10 is a dog-or pawl 19 to engage the ratchet wheel 17.

said 100- is pivoted adjacent to one of, its

ends so that its short end will project beyond the extremity of the arm 10 and form a finger piece which when depressed I will throw the dog 19 over and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

For the purpose of permitting the clothes line to be readily fastened to the body portion of the reel 2 a clip 20 is secured thereto by screws 21 or other fastenings. Said clip is in the form of a metal plate arranged longitudinally of the body of the reel and hav- 111g one oi its ends secured and its other end offset and spaced from thehody' so that the clothes line may be readily engaged with it.

In operation when it is desired to set up a clothes line, its free end is suitably fixed, the pawl 19 is swung out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 17 and the frame is car ried to the support on which the bracket 1 is arranged. -When said arm is thus carried the clothes line will unwind from the reel and when the bracket 1 is reached the offset portion 8 of said frame is engaged with the hook portion 7 on the bracket. The dog or "pawl '19 is then swung into engagement with the ratchet wheel 17 and the crank 14 is 1 turned to take up slack in the clothes line and stretch the latter. reversing the above described operation the line may he wound up upon the reel and when wound the frame 3 may be detached from the bracket 1' and carried nto the house or any sheltered place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides an exceedingly simple device of this character which may be produced at a small cost and will be strong and durable in use.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

A device of the'character described comprising an apertured plate having an upwardly projecting hook, a U-shaped frame having its closed portion offset to detachably engage said hook on the attaching plate, the

thereon, one end of said-shaft being provided-with a crank and the other with a cylindrical journal to rotate in the bearing opening in one of said arms, a sleeve having a a fiat faced central opening to receive the shaft, one end of said sleeve beingreduced to provide a cylindrical journal to rotate in the bearing opening of the other of said arms, the other end vof said collar being enlarged and formed with an annular series of-ratchet teeth, and a pawl carried by the last mentioned arm of the frame and adapted to coaet Withsaid ratchet teeth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. MICHAEL KERRIGAN. Witnesses:

JAB. V. DAVIS, J OHN MOGLADE. 

